Crazy Busy Weekend and a Recipe: Dump Cake

Ever feel as though you wish you could have a weekend extension?  If only it were that easy.  We were crazy busy this weekend and before I knew it, the weekend was over and we were in our Sunday evening prep for the week ahead. 

Somewhere in the midst of all of that, I forgot to post last night.  It always seems as though Sunday nights are the busiest night of the week for us as we are signing forms, finishing laundry, making lunches, and squeezing every last item on the Sunday to-do list into several hours.  That is why this recipe for Dump Cake is so appropriate.  The prep time takes less than a minute and it smells delicious while it is baking.  We won't talk about the calories, fat or sugar content.  Brooke shared this recipe with me yesterday as we were grocery shopping.  She had been at a friends house and tried it and thought we would like it and she was right.

Dump Cake
1 can of Cherry pie filling
1 can of crushed pineapple
1 yellow cake mix
1 stick of butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Pour the cherry pie filling into a 13 X 9 inch pan.

Next, pour in the pineapple.

Mix the two together and then add the yellow cake mix on top.

Then cut up a stick of butter and place it on top of the cake mix.

Bake for 45 minutes to an hour until browned around the edges and enjoy!
It tastes a lot like a cobbler and very little like cake.

Have a great week!

Take Me Out To The Ballpark........

Today we spent a beautiful day at the Ballpark in Arlington where we watched the Texas Rangers lose to the Anaheim Angels, 3-2.  Despite the loss, it was a warm day, the food was good and a great time was had by everyone!

We managed to eat our way through the ballpark.  We had wings, garlic fries, nachos and ice cream.  What a combo!  I hope everyone is having a great weekend and don't forget to "Play Ball!"

Teacup rings

We have a new store in our area, Charming Charlies.
http://www.charmingcharlie.com/home.

To say that I am overwhelmed each time I enter the store is an understatement. The store has jewelry, clothing, shoes, hats, and really any accessory a girl could ever hope for but it's also arranged in color coded sections.  I actually have to limit my time in the store to 30 minutes or I get light headed from looking at everything.  It is a lot to take in.  Recently though, I purchased the most adorable and playful teacup ring at the store.  That rings makes me happy.   Maybe it's because I like tea and maybe I just want to play dress up but it made me think that there must be other teacup rings out there so I began looking online and here is what I found.   They are everywhere......

  This teacup ring with a bird can be found here:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/23272586/bluebird-in-the-teacup-adjustable-ring?ref=sr_list_1&ga_search_query=tea+cup+ring&ga_search_type=tag_title&ga_page=&min=&max=&order=

Check out her fairy door necklace as well, it's wonderful !:    http://www.etsy.com/listing/73071082/fairy-door-necklace


   This one can be found here:   http://www.etsy.com/listing/37825541/teacup-ring?ref=sr_gallery_4&ga_search_query=tea+cup+ring&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=2&order=&includes%5B0%5D=tags&includes%5B1%5D=title

And this one at the same Etsy store, with tea inside: 



And then there is this one: 

  I love the colors.  It can be found here:  http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=1852919

So can this one: 



This is my ring from Charming Charlies.

 

Happy Thursday everyone!

It's National Eat What You Want Day....Who knew?

It's Wednesday, the week is halfway over.  More importantly, it is National Eat What You Want Day!  Who knew such a day existed?  I would hate to upset the National Day of people and I'm all for a day of eating whatever I fancy so I thought I would share my perfect day of food, in pictures. 

This actually is what I had for breakfast.  It's my summer breakfast (hey it's officially hot here in Texas so that counts). Winters I have oatmeal with cranberries because it's warm and wintry.  But warmer weather means a cold breakfast.  I like to have plain 0% Fage Greek yogurt with frozen mixed berries and a drop or two of agave nectar.  Delicious, creamy, fresh and wonderful.  I have also been known to have it for dessert as well.

Because it is Wednesday, that means it is office lunch day.  Each Wednesday my whole office goes to lunch together and we rotate on picking a spot to eat.  Today is actually my day to pick so I am picking a place that has an amazing salad bar.  I get the same things on it each time I go. I am apparently a creature of habit.   Spinach as a salad bed, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, green bell peppers, one hard boiled egg, feta cheese, black olives, cottage cheese as a dressing and a side of hummus with wheat crackers.  Yum.

                                             

And Dinner.  It's actually my favorite meal of the day.  I am having a family favorite tonight, chicken curry with rice.  It is my Mom's recipe and my whole family loves it. I often pull it out when someone is not feeling well or it is a little chilly outside.  We are expecting a big storm this evening and Don has been under the weather so I know this will be the perfect dinner.

                                               

And dessert.  I have to go with my current favorite right now which is frozen yogurt.  (See a pattern here?)  Our town has recently seen 5 frozen yogurt establishments open in the last year and they are all really delicious.  My personal favorite is original tart with gummy bears.  It's the perfect end to a perfect food day.

                                                            

What would you eat on your Eat What You Want Day?

A Recipe - Lemon Cloud Pie

This recipe is adapted from one that my Mother in Law gave to me in a cookbook from a local Senior Association.  She recommended it to me and I was in the mood for something lemony.  Halfway through making it, I realized that I wasn't supposed to use a Graham cracker crust but instead was supposed to put the graham crackers in the bottom of a 13 x 9 inch pan.  Then my evaporated milk mixture formed into stiff peaks but it fell when I was distracted.  I wanted to salvage the ingredients so I decided to freeze the pie and low and behold, it turned out really well.  

Lemon Cloud Pie
1 small package lemon Jello
3/4 cup boiling water
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 lemons, juice and grated rind
1 (14 oz.) can evaporated milk, very cold
Graham cracker crumbs

Dissolve Jello in boiling water.  Add sugar, lemon juice and rind.  Stir until sugar is dissolved.  Refrigerate mixture until syrupy.  Whip cold evaporated milk until stiff (it helps to freeze your bowl first).  Fold in lemon mixture.  Pour into a 13 x 9 inch pan lined with graham cracker crumbs on the bottom (or a graham cracker crumb pie crust).  Sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs on top or grated lemon rind.  This is where you can also freeze.  Slice and enjoy!

Now that's what I call making lemons into lemon cloud pie!  Happy Tuesday!

A Recipe - Candy Dots

Yesterday, Ally and I made candy dots from a recipe and template I found here:  http://www.sandytoesandpopsicles.com/

This is the recipe:

Candy Dots

2 tablespoons meringue powder or 2 egg whites

6 tablespoons water

1/4 teaspoon almond extract or lemon juice

1 pound confectioner's sugar

ziploc sandwich baggies

food coloring

Note:  We used meringue powder and lemon juice.

1)  Cut non-toxic computer paper into 2 3/4" x 10" strips

2)  Whip together sugar, meringue powder and lemon juice on low speed for 1 minute.  Then continue to whip for 10 minutes on high speed.

3)  Divide the mixture into small bowls.  Color each bowl different colors.  You can also add different flavorings to each at this point.

4) If icing is too thick, thin out with drops of water until it is the consistency of sour cream.  A drop should hold its shape and slowly smooth out to create a smooth button.

5)  Pour each color into a baggie and seal.  Then cup a very small corner off of each bag.  (We used the snack sized baggies)

6)  Squeeze a drop of icing at a time onto the paper. 

7)  Place on baking sheets in a cool dry place uncovered to dry overnight.  (Ours dried within a couple of hours)

8)  Candy will harden overnight and then you can store it in a ziploc bag or airtight container. 

9) Enjoy! 

I also wanted to share a photo that was taken yesterday of the girls and I.

Happy Mother's Day!!

Hydreangea Cake



When I set out to find a cake that would be perfect for Mother's Day, this was my inspiration.  http://iammommy.typepad.com/i_am_baker/2011/03/hydreangea-cake.html

Mine fell short of the one that i am baker produced. But, I had help. Lots of help.  That help makes this cake taste all the better .  The runny frosting reminds me that I need to practice patience. The bright colors remind me that there is a rainbow of colors in the world.  The flowers remind me to grow and not become a weed.  The messy kitchen reminds me that there is always tomorrow to clean and most of all, this cake reminds me to sit back and enjoy my slice of life.

Today, for my Mom, I would like to send her my love and thanks for being patient, kind, loving  and allowing me in the kitchen to make messes.  She is one of the most intelligent, talented and creative women I know.   I love you Mom!